... we inhabit. Venus has a thick layer of constant cloud cover that reflects 85% of all the sunlight reaching the planet. This not only makes Venus the brightest object in the night sky (after the sun and moon), but also makes observational study very difficult, as we are unable to observe the surface from space. This has required many space missions with orbiters and probes to gather information ... and strategies of analysis are being proposed and used every day in studying Venus. Another interesting characteristic of Venus that has long puzzled scientists is the planet's unusual rotation...

• Word Count: 2107
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: Undergraduate